Tetracycline inducible transcription control sequence

Abstract

The present invention relates to inducible transcription control sequences for the regulation of gene expression. Specifically, it relates to an transcription control sequence comprising at least two tet operator sequence motifs allowing the binding of tetracycline-dependent transcriptional regulators, wherein each of the tetracycline-dependent transcriptional regulators binds with respect to its neighbor to an opposite face of the DNA helix, and a minimal promoter comprising a TATA box which is linked at its 5′ end to a general transcription factor binding site. Further, the present invention relates to a vector, a host cell, a plant or a non-human transgenic animal comprising the transcription control sequence. Also contemplated is a method for regulating the expression of a nucleic acid sequence being operatively linked to the transcription control sequence of the present invention in a host cell, a plant or a non-human transgenic animal.

The invention claimed is:   
     
       1. A nucleic acid, wherein the nucleic acid has a sequence that is at least 90% identical to the sequence of any one of SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, and SEQ ID NO: 17. 
     
     
       2. A vector comprising the nucleic acid of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       3. The vector of  claim 2 , wherein the vector is an expression vector. 
     
     
       4. The vector of  claim 3 , wherein the nucleic acid is operatively linked to a second nucleic acid sequence to be expressed. 
     
     
       5. A method for regulating the expression of a second nucleic acid sequence operatively linked to the nucleic acid of  claim 1  in a host cell, in a non-human animal, or in a plant, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a host cell, a non-human animal, or a plant comprising the second nucleic acid operatively linked to the nucleic acid of  claim 1 ; 
 (b) expressing in the host cell, non-human animal, or plant a polynucleotide encoding a tetracycline-dependent transcriptional regulator; and 
 (c) modulating the concentration of a tetracycline or analog thereof in the host cell, non-human animal or plant, wherein expression of the second nucleic acid sequence is regulated. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the tetracycline-dependent transcriptional regulator binds to a tet operator in the absence of tetracycline or an analog thereof. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the tetracycline-dependent transcriptional regulator activates expression of the second nucleic acid sequence. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the tetracycline-dependent transcriptional regulator inhibits expression of the second nucleic acid sequence. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the tetracycline-dependent transcriptional regulator binds to a tet operator in the presence of tetracycline or an analog thereof. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the tetracycline-dependent transcriptional regulator activates expression of the second nucleic acid sequence. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the tetracycline-dependent transcriptional regulator inhibits expression of the second nucleic acid sequence. 
     
     
       12. The nucleic acid of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid has a sequence that is at least 90% identical to the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 16.